A Whirlwind Tour of our Nation’s Capital, Washington D.C.
With countless museums, monuments and other attractions, the thought of seeing all of Washington, D.C., in three days is daunting. The trick is to plan several visits!
Where to Stay
When booking a hotel in D.C., it is important to consider the location. It may be less expensive to stay in a hotel in Maryland or Virginia suburbs, but these might not be Metro-accessible (the Metro is D.C.’s subway system), or may require long rides into the city. There are hundreds of affordable hotels in the District, some within walking distance of some of our most treasured attractions.
How to Get Here
There are three major airports in the metropolitan area, all less than an hour from the city: Reagan National Airport (DCA), Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI). National is the closest to the city and is accessible by Metro or a short cab ride. Dulles, in Northern Virginia is at least a 30-minute drive, and a cab ride can cost $60+. (A Super Shuttle will cost less for a one-way ticket into the city, but because it takes multiple passengers, it may take some time to get to your destination.)
BWI is in Maryland, and although is the farthest from the city, there are multiple ways to get there. You can get a Super Shuttle or take a 30-minute train right into Union Station, where you can catch the Metro.
The train is an excellent way to travel to D.C. Though it can be a little pricey, it will take you to Union Station, which is in the heart of the city.
How to Get Around
Best advice: Do not drive! D.C. is famous for its complicated streets, originally designed to confuse foreign invaders. There are traffic circles, partial one-way streets, dead ends and missing streets (such as J Street). If you do decide to drive, do not take it lightly.
Instead, take the Metro. It is clean, modern, easy and reasonably priced. Up to two children under the age of 4 can ride for free with an adult paying full fare.
If you want to travel above ground to see the sights, many Metro buses in the District run 24 hours a day. There is also a Circulator bus, which makes a loop through the city, hitting the major stops that are must sees: Georgetown, Union Station, the Mall, the Smithsonian museums and other attractions. The Circulator is very inexpensive. If you want a guided tour, there are red Double Decker tour buses you can hop on or off whenever there is a landmark you want to explore further. The tour bus tickets are around $20 (check for price changes!) each and are good for 24 hours.
If you are staying for the weekend, the best bet is to buy each member of your family a SmartTrip card. They are reusable Metro cards, which you simply load enough money onto to last you the weekend. The turnstiles let you know how much money you have left on the cards. You can use the SmartTrip card on the Metro, buses or the Circulator.
Day One
Hit the Mall on your first day in the district—and we’e not talking about shopping. The most famous landmarks in Washington, D.C., are on the National Mall. The Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial are must-sees. The most recent addition, the World War II Memorial, is perfect on a hot summer day because of the giant fountain in the middle. 
If you are feeling a little bit adventurous and your kids are still up and running, the Jefferson Memorial and the FDR Memorial are a bit of a hike (on the other side of the Tidal Basin).
If you just want to stay on the main section of the Mall, many of the Smithsonian Institution’s 14 museums are steps away. Plan ahead by visiting GoSmithsonian.com, and stop in the Smithsonian Castle for more information. Popular destinations include the Air & Space Museum, the Museum of the American Indian, Natural History Museum and African Art Museum, but you may also want to see the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, the Anacostia Community Museum and the Postal Museum. All of the museums are free, so you and your family can easily stop briefly at more than one.
Day Two
Even though downtown D.C. doesn’t seem that big, there is a lot packed in. The best bet is for you and your family to spend two full days on the Mall and the surrounding areas. Hit up some of the museums that you missed the first day. The National Air and Space Museum is great for kids because it has a plethora of hands-on activities, such as a flight simulator. The National Museum of American History, which was just recently re-opened after being closed for renovation, has some national treasures, such as Judy Garland’s Ruby Red Slippers and the past First Ladies’ gowns. The National Art Gallery has displays and hands-on activities just right for young children (and, like the Smithsonians, the NGA is free).
The Library of Congress is worth seeing simply for the architecture (note: it is not open on the weekends) and is across the street from the new Capitol Visitor’s Center and take a tour of the Capitol. You can also get a tour through your Congressperson or Senator’s office, but these should be scheduled a few months before visiting. White House tours are difficult to obtain, but try your congressperson or senator. Your best option may be to walk along Pennsylvania Avenue and take some pictures outside the White House gate. Along the way, stop in the National Archives, where you can see the original Declaration of Independence.
Day Three
After you have seen the main tourist attractions, this is the day to see the other sides of D.C. There are some great neighborhoods that show the city’s culture and diversity. 
The kids (and you) will love the National Zoo (also free) with its most popular attraction, the giant panda exhibit, where panda parents Mei Xiang and Tian Tian show off their 3-year old cub, Tai Shan. The areas surrounding the zoo, Cleveland Park and Woodley Park, have some terrific restaurants right at the Metro stops, with food that will please even the pickiest of eaters. These are also great areas to walk around to experience the D.C. that the locals see everyday.
The National Cathedral is nearby, and the architecture you see is fantastic. Mimicking the gothic style of cathedrals in Europe, the cathedral has high vaulted ceilings, beautiful stained glass windows and fanciful gargoyles and grotesques. Next door is a small English-style garden that, in the spring or summer, is perfect for the kids to play, or at least lie down after an action-packed weekend.
Washington, D.C. is full of attractions for kids and adults. We know that when your family leaves, you’ll want to come back soon.
Sightseeing Resources
- Washington.org: The official tourism website offers suggestions on planning your family’s visit to D.C., as well as what to see, where to eat and performances to catch.
- Culturaltourismdc.org and dcvisit.org: More helpful websites.
- wmata.com: D.C. Metro website. You can plan your travel itinerary throughout the city and find out when the next train or bus is coming.
- washingtoncitypaper.com: D.C.’s free magazine gives locals and visitors information on what is going on in the city during the week. You can check it out online or at newsstands by Metro stations.
- si.edu: Gives you access to all the Smithsonian museums and features new exhibits, ongoing exhibits, hours of operation and more. They even have a Smithsonian kids section to make your museum tours more kid-friendly.
- Washingtonparent.com: Washington Parent magazine has been serving the D.C. metropolitan area for more than 25 years. It provides tips for parents about kids, ranging from newborn to adolescent, as well as a calendar of events for the month.
- Dccirculator.com: The D.C. Circulator website. You can view the route the bus takes, as well as area attractions and dining options.
NOTE: If you are going to D.C. in the spring, try to avoid the Cherry Blossom Festival. It is truly a spectacular sight but, unfortunately, the hoards of tourists are not worth the headache.
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Article by Casey Shellenberger
Photos/Credits:
Washington Monument: Photo courtesy of Dorry Samuels
The Smithsonian Castle: photo courtesy of the Smithsonian
Vietnam War Memorial: Photo courtesy of Anna Hughes
